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Cigar Memorial Statue to Be Unveiled at Hall of Champions

Bronze Sculpture Features Cigar and Jockey Jerry Bailey Winning 1995 Breeders’ Cup Classic

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2015) – The Kentucky Horse Park will unveil a new memorial statue dedicated to the great Thoroughbred champion Cigar on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 3 p.m. Created by artist Douwe “Dow” Blumberg, the statue will be placed at Cigar’s gravesite at the Hall of Champions and features Cigar with jockey Jerry Bailey winning the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

One of the world’s top Thoroughbred racehorses, Cigar died Oct. 7, 2014, at age 24. In May 1999, Cigar came to the Kentucky Horse Park to live out his retirement. He was voted Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year in both 1995 and 1996. In August 2002 he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Cigar was also voted the Racehorse of the Decade of the 1990s.

Blumberg is a Kentucky artist and former professional horse trainer. Originally from Los Angeles, California, he now resides north of Lexington. His works include New York City’s new America’s Response Monument and the Flight 5191 memorial in Lexington.

Thanks to support from all over the world, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation was able to commission the statue. Additional contributions are being accepted to complete the Cigar Memorial. Contributions may be sent to the Cigar Memorial Fund at the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511, or made by phone at 859-255-5727, or online at www.khpfoundation.org.

For more information about the Cigar Memorial Statue unveiling or Cigar, contact the Kentucky Horse Park at 859-233-4303 or 800-678-8813 or info@kyhorsepark.com or visit www.KyHorsePark.com.

The Kentucky Horse Park is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 1. Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children, and includes the Next Day Free. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate; and the “Showplace for Saddlebreds” – The American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop.

The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 800,000 visitors and campers, as well as 18,400 competition horses in approximately 200 special events and horse shows in 2014. The park is home to the National Horse Center, which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is THE place to get close to horses. Information about the park’s programs and activities can be found online at www.KyHorsePark.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and Periscope.

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov

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